Birthday card plea for 103-year-old smashes target

Sylvia Dalton worked as a headteacher in Stockton-on-Tees

A care home's appeal to the public for 103 cards to help celebrate a woman's 103rd birthday has smashed its target.

Montpellier Manor Care Home, in Middlesbrough, wanted resident Sylvia Dalton to have a "special surprise" on her birthday which is on 1 November.

They put out a plea for birthday cards on social media and have already received 124 cards in two post days.

Deputy care home manager Kelly Deane said they expected to receive thousands of cards at the rate they were going, adding: "She loves reading so I think she's going to want to read every single card which might take her months at this point."

The care home surpassed its target in less than two days

Ms Deane said the care home had received "constant" attention since the plea was made.

"People have decided to ask if we want limousines for her, flowers, facials, manicures, a pony to come into the home to see her," she said.

"It's very overwhelming just for us and she doesn't even know yet so she's going to be absolutely amazed."

'Gorgeous, lovely lady'

Mrs Dalton has three daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who live as far apart as Scotland and Guernsey.

She spent most of her working life teaching in Stockton-on-Tees where she eventually became the headteacher of an infant school.

Ms Deane described her as a "gorgeous, lovely lady who lives a very social life" at the care home in Stainton, Middlesbrough, which she moved into in 2023.

"She loves chatting to people," she said.

When asked why they made the plea for birthday cards Ms Deane said: "It's quite an achievement to get to the age of 100, never mind 103, so we just wanted to do something special for her while she's here with us".

Mrs Dalton has plans for afternoon tea with her daughters on her birthday so the care home is planning to throw a party for her in the morning.

Her family said that when asked why she thought she had lived so long, she replied: "I have always been happy".